Body manipulating table



Jan" 17, 1950 A. L. COLSTON 2,494,746

BODY MANIPULATING TABLE Filed March 18 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l UQTHUIQ LHPEON COLST'ON,

- INVENTOR.

Jan. 117, 1950 A, COLSTON 2,494,746

BODY MANIPULATING TABLE Filed March 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N1 'ENTOR.

Patented Jan. 17, 19569 PATENT "0F FICE 2 494,?46 BODYMANIPULAITING TABLE Arthur Larron iColston, Manhattan Beach, *Calif.

Application March18, 1949,, SeriafNo. 82,117

(Cl. EMS-46 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to body manipulation tables, and particularly to atable which is motor operated for overcoming certain physiological and functional disabilities occurring .in the human body which are not directly attributable to bacterial invasion.

Body actuating tables are well-known, such as shown in U. S. Patents No. 1,686,979, No. 1,931,- 2999, and No. 2,240,679. The present invention,

however, is directed to a table providing a new movement or actuation of the body which permits the technician to vary the manipulative technique according to the necessity of the occasion. It provides for variably pivoting the body [action to simulate part of the deep manipulative technique advocated in the basic philosophy of .osteopathy, wherein .it is partially claimed that deep tissue manipulation to involved areas will assist in eliminating the congestion within those areas, thereby enabling the body to resume its normal functions. It has been found that the action of the table and the correct placement of the body pivot under the umbilicus does and has procured many results otherwise unobtainable through the use of manual techniques.

The action of the table has been ,tound to produce diuresis with increased excretion of total nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus, "and sodium chloride, to provide .a tonic and sedative influence beneficial in fatigue, insomnia, hysteria, and neurosthenia. It has been found to relieve muscle spasm in ,myoigia, iibros-itis, and chronic arthritis, while the pain in sciatica, lumbo and abdominal .neurneuralgia is relieved. The increased circulation in the legs assists in the prevention of gangrene in diabetic ipatc :ients. Many other beneficial results are obtainable from two features; namely, the -form of motion of the table, which is different from prior table motions, and the adjustable pivot point about which the body is moved.

A still further object of the invention is to pro- 55 2 'vide-a bodymanipulation-table having an adjustable body pivot.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims, the manner of its organization and the mode of its operation will be better understood by referring to the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof in which:

Fig. lisa perspective view showing the table of the invention in operation.

Fig. 2 is "a side, elevational view of the invention showing several vertical positions of the moving portion thereof.

Fig. 3 is :an end view of the invention.

Fig. 4 is aitopview of the table 'showingseveral horizontal positions of the moving portion thereof.

Fig. :5 is a detail View in cross-section of the rotary drive for the table.

Fig. 6 is :a detail view of the bearing mount for the table, taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

:Fig. 7 is a detail view of the pivot mount for the table, .and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the bearin of the pivot mount, taken along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, in which the same numerals refer to like elements, a box-like frame housing 5,, having angle iron longitudinal, bottom, edge members 6, .has a sloping upper surface panel .8, the remaining surface of the upper portion .of the housing being horizontal. Within the housing 5, is a motor Ill driving a belt or chain H, which is connected to a pulley it of a reduction gear box It. From the gear box It, a shaft 16 extends, on the end of which is a slotted radial arm 11. In the slot of the arm H, is a shaft 2U, having a head 2! with ashou'lder '22 in the $10.11. On the shaft 29, is "a U-shaped spacer '24, an abutting member 25, and a wing nut 26. "Surrounding the adjoining ends of members 2 and 25, is a ball element 28, on which is a ball bearing 29. To position the shaft 28 at any radial distance from the shaft [6, the wing nut 26 is loosened, the shaft moved to the desired point, and the Wing nut tightened, which fixedly attaches the shaft 20 to the arm I1.

On the bearing 29, is mounted the apex of a triangular bracket 3l, the apex being in ring form, as shown at 32. The two legs of the bracket have a spacer rod 34, and the ends have holes through which are bolts, one being shown at 35 in Fig. 6. The bolts have mounted thereon bearings St, on which are mounted table supporting members 31 attached to the side frame members of the movable table portion 40 at approximately the longitudinal center thereof. This portion 40 of the table is pivoted on bearings, one being shown at M (see Fig. 8) by means of a bolt 42 attached to the ends of a cross support 45. The support 45 is mounted on a vertical rod 46, which passes through the case 5 at 41 and is pivotally mounted on bearings 49 and 50.

Thus, energization of the motor l by means of a switch will rotate shaft l6, which imparts not only a vertical reciprocating motion to table portion or a reciprocating horizontal motion, but a circulatory motion having a radius or diameter dependent upon the setting or adjustment of the shaft 20 from the shaft 16. The diameter of the circular path of the shaft 20 is adjustable up to twenty-four inches, and a preferred speed of rotation is approximately sixteen revolutions per minute.

The remaining portion of the table consists of a fixed portion 54 which may be upholstered with leatherette or rubberized hair, the same as portion 40. This portion of the table has a supporting bar or railing 55 around its three edges with restraining bands 51 and 58 attached about four inches from the outside edge, and eighteen inches from the end of the table. These bands or straps give an element of restraint to the limbs or ex tremities of the patient. A nasal slot 60 is provided in table portion 54, and a similar slot 6| in portion 40. Side grips 63 and 64 are attached under and alongside the movable portion 40.

To complete the table equipment or apparatus, a heavy sandbag 66, approximately twenty-four inches by eight inches, and weighing substantially twenty pounds, is used to establish the main body fulcrum, which causes a stretching or telescoping action according to the position of the movable portion 40 of the table. The patient can be placed upon the table in four positions, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. Each position will give a specific reaction, according to the position of the sandbag 66, upon the spinous process and viscera, thus providing both rotation and traction as a therapeutic adjuvant. Either the upper or lower portion of the patients body may rest on the movable portion of the table, while the other portion of the body is placed under limited restraint by the straps 51 and 58. Thus, a true rotation, together with a regulative traction is possible with the above described table by which the above mentioned results are obtainable.

I claim:

1. A body manipulating table, comprising a fixed horizontal portion, a movable portion hav ing one rotatable end, means for rotating said one end of said movable portion in a circular path, the other end of said movable portion being pivoted adjacent one end of said fixed portion,

4 and means for adjusting the diameter of the path of rotation of said movable portion.

2. A body manipulating table in accordance with claim 1, in which body restraint means are attached to said table portions, together with means positioned and adjustable on the adjacent ends of said table portions for determining the fulcrum of a body being manipulated by said table.

3. A body treating table, comprising a fixed, horizontal portion, a movable portion, a pivot at the end of said movable portion adjacent one end of said fixed portion, a rotatable shaft under said table portions and having an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of said table portions, an arm on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a bearing on said arm, and a bracket between said bearing and said movable portion, rotation of said shaft rotating said movable portion on said pivot in a circular path, dependent upon the distance of said bearing from said shaft.

4. A body treating table in accordance with claim 3, in which a raised body is positioned and adjustable on the surface of the adjacent ends of said table portions.

5. A body treating table, comprising a flat, surfaced section adapted to hold a portion of the body of a person in a substantially fixed position, a second fiat, surfaced section adapted to support the other portion of the body of a person, said second section having one end pivoted adjacent one end of said first section, and means for rotating the other end of said second section about an axis coincident with the axis of said first section.

6. A body treating table in accordance with claim 5, in which are provided a rotatable shaft, an arm extending from said shaft, and a bracket connecting said arm and said second section, said bracket rotating said second section.

7. A body treating table in accordance with claim 6, in which interconnecting means between said bracket and said arm are provided, said means being adapted to vary the diameter of the rotational path of said second section.

8. A body treating table in accordance with claim 5, in which means are positioned and adjustable on adjacent ends of said table sections to vary the fulcrum point of the body of a person during rotation of said second section.

ARTHUR LARRON COLSTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,482,173 Willard -Jan. 29, 1924 1,539,214 Shockey May 26, 1925 1,602,196 Iverson Oct. 5, 1926 1,992,127 Marlowe Feb. 19, 1935 2,014,508 Pupier Sept. 17, 1935 

